Chapter 1: Unforeseen Consequence's
Welcome to all, and welcome back to anyone who has read anything I have wrote prior to my new endeavour a RWBY, SI/OC (more OC than anything) fanfiction, the first thing I'd like to say is thank you for giving this story a shot and secondly, I own absolutely nothing just my oc.
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"HADRIAN!"
"God damnit Mercer, Get back here!"
"We need to head home!"
That was my name, Hadrian Mercer, and those were my friend's, and unknown to me. This would be the last time I would ever hear them. At 17 I thought I was okay looking, at 6ft4" and 205lbs of fairly toned muscle, from years of Muay Thai, Greco-Roman wrestling and Judo, my naturally tanned skin and black hair and the small 5 'o' clock shadow, I think most blokes my age dreamed of, clashed a fair amount with my green eyes.
Me and my friends had been idiot's, it was towards the end of spring, and being British we were supposed to be in school still, it being a surprisingly good day at least weather wise, we had decided to skip and head to the beach. We had been there for 6 hours by now, and the weather had taken a turn for the worst. Lashing rain and harsh winds had hit with the other's wanting to head home. I, however had seen an opportunity to surf and ran back to the water before swimming out a bit whilst my friends had begun to climb the cliff's before realising I wasn't with them.
Smiling up at them from about 50ft out, I gave a cheeky wave before seeing the colossal one heading towards me. This was my chance and I was going to take it. Turning so I was facing towards the beach I prepared myself. When it hit I surgered forward's rapidly and began the process of standing. It was a great feeling, wind in my face and even the cold spray of the water below and the rain above wasn't able to worsen my mood. Then everything changed, the wave suddenly broke hitting the front of my board sending me flying forward's. The water being shallow meant I crashed in to the sandy floor, hard, the air left my lungs and I breathed in. Almost immediately I was coughing up only for the water surging back in, panicking I tried to stand only for a wave to crash in to the back of my head sending me under once more. By now my vision was beginning to fade, my chest burning in pain, my limbs struggling to move and my brain slow to react. I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't believe it. Surely, I wasn't going to die here, I wasn't going to die here. I wouldn't let myself die here. And with that I surged upwards towards the surface.
Breaking the surface, I breathed deeply letting the air soothe my burning lungs. Standing up so the waves wouldn't knock me once more under the water. Clutching my knees, I breathed deeply, occasionally coughing up bits of sea water. And as the fog across my mind and the pain in my body faded, I began to realise several thing's, the rain wasn't hitting my skin, the winds weren't nearly as harsh and I couldn't hear my friend's. Slowly wandering in the direction, I assumed the beach was, whilst trying to remember to breathe as the panic still raced through my body, when I finally felt my feet reach open I began to look about, staring up at the sharp cliffs, seeing grey trees lining the top, looking for my friends or at least the pathway up but unable to see it, in the gloomy night lighting. At this I did a double take, as It was beginning to get dark sure, but it hadn't been night yet. Scanning the horizon, I was again shocked to see the sea was calm and only small and occasional waves hitting the beach. I could see the occasional star in the distance, and began to look up letting the breath of relief I wasn't aware I was holding escape me. Only to gasp, and begin to struggle to breathe as I stared at the impossible. The moon. It was broken, shattered, in one corner.
"Guess I'm not in Cornwall anymore" I whispered to myself as I began to fall backwards in to unconsciousness my mind and body unable to cope.
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When I next awoke, I was staring up at a wooden ceiling, the room was moderately decorated but still basic in style, I could tell it was morning by the small rays of sunlight coming through the edges of the window that weren't covered by curtains. Lying on a moderately comfortable bed and dressed in a loose fitting green t-shirt and grey trousers' that weren't my own. Sitting up quickly and realising immediately how much of a mistake that was by the room suddenly spinning, I laid back down and just let my head gather itself before trying once more this time slower. Turning so my legs were on the floor and placing my head in my hands as I went over the events of yesterday. Coming to the conclusion that it must have been a lucid dream brought on by the almost drowning that I had suffered, which then led in to my next thought where the hell was I. Easing myself to my feet and slowly walking towards the door, occasionally grabbing at the cupboard's and tables that lined the room to steady myself, my legs apparently feeling uneasy. Pulling it open and meandering slowly down the set of stairs at the end of the hallway, hearing noise from the general direction of what I assumed was likely a kitchen I headed there.
Only to come face to face, with impossibility, with a potential nightmare, a cartoon made flesh. Because staring back at me, inconceivably and whole heartedly human and living, Taiyang Xiao Long. My head swam once more, the cliffs, the grey trees, the shattered moon, hell even this house I had seen before, but it was impossible, surely It was a show, a show made by people I had met at convention's, made by a group of people who I'd seen online and watched for years. But here it was undeniable proof. Taiyang Xiao Long staring at me worried.
"You okay kid? You look like you've seen a ghost" He asked, in the voice that was impossibly Burnie Burn's. And I won't lie, as much as it pains my pride, for the second time in 24 hour's I slipped once more in to unconsciousness.
When I woke up once more, yet again staring at the ceiling, this time it blocked by the face of Taiyang, I won't lie I was hoping id wake up home, hell even in a hospital, that I would at least be able to comprehend. But even as most of my mind struggled with the reality of the situation, I could hear a little voice in the back of my head planning, realising I didn't belong here and I would have to lie my ass off. But even as my mind thought this I could feel the words leaving my mouth unbidden.
"Where am I, how am I here?" My voice fairly deep for a guy my age, increased by the hoarseness in my throat. Rolling to one side and coughing slightly as my unused vocal cords made their displeasure known.
"You're at my house, and as to how my daughters found you passed out on the beach"
Oh Shit, if my brain could barely comprehend Taiyang, what was going to happen when I saw Yang and Ruby. Hell, even anyone else I met and heaven forbid a Faunus. Having managed to crawl backwards to the edge of the sofa I took a minute to comprehend the situation I was in.
I am somehow in the world of Remnant why and how are both question's that I will need to try and answer at some point, along with is it possible to get home, but without knowing the answer I couldn't begin to dwell on that last one for the fact as in a world such as this I couldn't risk the potential danger my sadness at the loss of my home would bring.
Fuck. RWBY. Grimm. I am so screwed. I have some fighting skills but nothing compared to what most people my age here would have, no identification, nothing, Do I even have an aura, oh god I hope I do, it would suck to walk outside and be shredded by the first thing that sees me.
"Hey kid breathe, in and out, copy me before you have another panic attack" Taiyang said staring at me, his hands on my shoulder's trying to comfort me. "Now let's start with the simplest thing's first, do you remember your name?"
"Hadrian, Hadrian Mercer" I replied gaspily, still struggling but slowly processing what was going on, now more worried on being shredded by a Grimm.
"Good Good, where do your parents live?" He asked kindly, and I knew here and now would be make or break.
"I don't know, it's all so foggy and hazy" I lied, my rapid breathing clearly helping sell the illusion.
"Where are you from?"
"I don't know"
"What happened?"
"I can't remember" and on and on it went for five minutes him asking question after question and me replying in I don't know. Because I realised if I was to survive I was going to have to deceive everyone and making it seem I was an amnesiac. I could tell that he at least seemed to believe me.
"Well let's get the important things out the way, you are in my house, my name is Taiyang Xiao Long, and you are on the island of the Patch. Do you know where that is?"
"near Vale I think, it's all so fuzzy"
"I am going to check something okay kid?" I just nodded in response. With that he moved forward's and quickly stabbed my arm with a small pin, as soon as he let go, I clutched at the slowly bleeding limb staring at the small cut he had made. I watched as wonder appeared across his face at the realisation, I had no aura or at least not unlocked. I was then forced to watch as he grabbed my arm's once more and began to mutter lowly, so low in fact I could barely catch what he was saying.
Then suddenly a dark green glow began to flow across my body as I stared in wonder at what could only be my aura. It was so beautiful and mesmerizing as I watched it swim across my body lightly, before it faded away. Looking up at Taiyang in wonder.
"What was that?" I asked, trying to sell the amnesiac act even more.
"That was your aura kid, surely you remember that?" He answered, worry crossing his face.
"It's like a protection, right?"
"Yes, it will help protect you against getting hurt and more specifically against Grimm, please tell me you remember what Grimm are?" He replied worry growing across his face.
"Monster's, right?" At this he let out a sigh of relief that I wasn't completely helpless before beginning to fill me in on Grimm and Aura more whilst explain Huntsman and Huntresses', zoning out slightly as I continued to stare at my arm as the small wound closed.
"How do I become one?" I asked a sincere look on my face, as my head made the realisation, that it would be the best way for me to discover how I got here and why, whilst also helping people, maybe even helping prevent some of the worse things I knew would happen.
"Well, most have trained their life for it, and go to academies like Beacon, how about this kid, we get fed, then me and my daughters can test you and see where you match up, what do you say?" Nodding in reply, he offered me and arm up and led me in to the kitchen, before turning and yelling for Yang and Ruby. Setting myself down at the table as he poured some cereal in to a bowl before passing it to me alongside some milk.
As soon as I heard the sound of feet running down the stairs I turned and watched as Zwei the corgi, Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long ran down the stairs. My breath caught as I stared at the very real Ruby and Yang stood in the door way, my belief I'd come to terms with my situation once more shaken, They looked so much like their characters but yet completely human, I had barely anytime to gather my thoughts before Yang walked over throwing an arm around my shoulder and sliding in to the chair next to me.
"Ahh your awake sleepyhead, nice to see you up and about, you were kind of heavy" She chuckled giving a little wink as she grabbed a bowl and started pouring some cereal of her own. Ruby giggling as she sat down across from me. "I'm Yang and that's Ruby"
"Nice meeting you both and thanks' for helping me" I replied smiling
"Don't worry about it, we were happy to help" Ruby answered smiling happily, "Why were you on the beach anyway?"
"I can't remember" I replied looking down sadly.
"What do you mean?" Yang asked confused.
"He's lost some of his memories, and the others are a bit foggy to him so for now, leave it" Taiyang replied, "but we need to see how good he is, as he wants to be a huntsman, so we will be heading over to Signal after we eat" He finished smiling.
"You want to be a huntsman, that's great me and Yang want to as well, well huntresses but you know what I mean, what weapon's do you use, oh but maybe you don't remember or maybe you do and oh I'm talking a lot, I'll stop talking now" Ruby asked quickly, the whole time a smile beginning to cross my face, as I tried not to laugh,
"I don't remember but maybe you can help me find out?" I said smiling, knowing Ruby had trouble making friend's at least in the beginning. My answer was a rapid nodding of the head and a giant smile.
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We had spent the rest of the meal eating and minor small talk before we'd left for Signal, Taiyang was able to enter the building even though it was a Saturday which I had just learnt. Entering to the duelling hall, and switching on the light's I was shocked at first,
"Okay here's how were going to do it, you will fight Ruby first, to gage where you are in regards to her and then we will put you up against Yang, Okay Kid?" I just nodded in response. "Okay grab a weapon that looks like you could use" before pointing to a section of the wall covered in various weapon's. As I walked over I looked up and down the various weapon's thinking about which to pick.
"katana's, good choice" I heard Taiyang call, confused for a second before realising, that I had grabbed two katana's whilst I had been looking at the other weapon's. I didn't remember going for them hell I could barely even remember seeing them in the first place but for some reason I'd been drawn to them. Looking at them as I moved towards the ring in confusion only looking up when I heard the tell-tale sign of Cresent Rose unfolding. It always looked awesome on the show, but now looking across from it all I could do was gulp in fear as I was about to get my ass handed to me. "Okay on my count, Three"
I was forced to watch as Ruby smiled before placing both hands on Crescent Rose. Whilst my arms still hung by my side unsure of what I was supposed to do with the two weapons in my hand's.
"Two!"
Ruby began to crouch slightly, a sign of her planning to use her semblance. All the while thoughts ran through my head of, oh I'm going to die, but then I felt my body begin to move in to a ready stance, the blades pointed forward's slightly.
"One!"
I could see the air around Ruby's feet beginning to shimmer slightly as she built up the energy to send herself across the room towards me, all the while feeling my body begin to brace and knowledge that wasn't my own fill my head. A smile crossed my face realising I wasn't going to be completely helpless
"Begin!"
In an instant Ruby was across the room, But I'd been ready bringing up both blades to catch the Scythe. Keeping one blade there, I dropped the other before spinning and kicking Ruby in the stomach with enough strength to push her back a few feet. Jumping forwards, I kept one blade at all time's trying to prevent Ruby hitting me, all the while slashing and stabbing with the other. I could see the frustration briefly on her face, before it was replaced with a smile. Confused I wasn't prepared for her to suddenly let go and spin the handle, catching me in the jaw, rolling with blow in to a crouching position, I smiled before diving back towards her, But as I did I felt something grow in my stomach till suddenly, I was behind her. I could see the confusion in her stance and just make out a green glow where I had been, before bringing both blade's round and under her chin. She had a moment to gulp before.
"I yield" Ruby said slightly sad before turning smiling "Was that your semblance?" I could see Taiyang in the corner looking confused. He'd not long unlocked my aura yet, here I was using my semblance.
"I think it was, maybe, I don't know, I just felt this feeling and went with it" I replied, "Same with the fighting, I can't remember learning that but I Just did it, because it felt right" I continued honestly.
"The weapon skill's, might be muscle memory, even though you've forgotten, your body hasn't" Taiyang explained, which might have been true if it wasn't for the fact I wasn't amnesiac, I could only chalk it up to being part of how I'd got here. "Your semblance however might just be natural" He continued on "Which would mean somewhere in your head, you knew what it might be, maybe your parent's" He continued before stopping at the sad look that crossed my face. To them it must have looked like I was upset by not remembering them, but really it was because I could, I just might not ever see them again. Then Suddenly Ruby was hugging me, which was quite comical due to the size difference.
"Don't worry it'll come back to you eventually" She told me calmly, trying to cheer me up. I just smiled in return.
"Okay Yang your up!" Taiyang yelled.
"You might be handsome but mess with my hair, and well you won't be anymore" Yang called as she got in to position and Ruby left the field. I would have though it a joke from her jovial tone, if not for what I knew about the show and knowing she was being dead honest.
"3!"
Once more I found myself slipping in to a ready position, this time it was more defensive, blades at my side and aimed behind me.
"2!"
Bending my knees and feeling the sensation once more, staring to just behind Yang.
"1!"
Feeling my mind relax, and whatever strange thing was giving me this knowledge takeover.
"Go!"
This time I was the first on the offensive appearing right behind Yang slightly in the Air I brought my leg round in a kick to the head, before landing in a crouched position. The kick stumbled her slightly, before she turned around anger in her eyes, and I realised my mistake.
"YOU MESSED WITH MY HAIR" She yelled as the signs of her semblance kicked in, launching at me by shooting backwards with Ember Cecilia, before she started throwing punch after punch towards me, weaving and ducking out of each and sliding out the way all the while taking small strikes at her with the katana's. As I slid beneath her legs and behind tripping her as I went, I remembered the key part of Yang's semblance. Every hit made her stronger. With that in mind I tried to grab at that feeling I had when I had used mine. Beginning to teleport around her in circle's and trying to wait out her semblance. Only for her to fire forward right in front of me and with clothesline a send me crashing to the floor before diving on top, Ember Cecilia aimed at my face and stomach.
"I yield, I yield." I said quickly genuinely fearing for my life from the pissed off Yang. Suddenly she smiled before getting off me and giving me a hand up.
"Okay your good, but theirs's room for improvement, and with some actual weapons of your own, I think you'd be good, maybe good enough for Beacon" Taiyang said, smiling at us. I could just make out Ruby in the corner already trying to figure out what sort of weapon it should be. "But your good enough that I'm happy to teach you"
"Thank you, you don't understand what that means to me, but I can't remember anything so what would happen with paperwork"
"Leave it with me" Taiyang said chuckling, I briefly wondered why before I was dragged away by the surprisingly small form of Ruby, Yang chuckling in the background as she followed, the whole while Ruby going on about my weapon's.
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Over the next two weeks a lot happened, Anytime I wasn't with Ruby, making my weapon's, was spent with Yang trying to get me some clothes, or It was doing Odd jobs here and there to payback Taiyang for his help. But it finally culminated, in me staring in the mirror. I was wearing Black Jean's, and a black shirt, with a dark green belt made to hold Dust Ammo, and two holsters', that currently held my two weapons'. A pair of Seven Chambered Dual Revolver's, which could switch in to two katana's, I was able to put a multitude of dust in the chamber each one giving a unique effect to the ammunition or to the blade itself whilst in Katana mode. They had been named Lucky Seven's due to the roulette like mechanic of picking which ammo is used next. Over the top I wore a dark green duster, with an ammo belt draped across one shoulder, The Jacket was highlighted by the black cuffs and collar, and a pair of black gloves with metal knuckles completing the outfit.
It'd taken a lot of time but I was happy, and with Taiyang having completed the form's I knew I'd soon be leaving for Beacon alongside Yang, which upset Ruby greatly. Her sister was leaving and she'd just got a new friend and yet he was leaving as well. To take her mind off of thing's she headed to Vale to get some ammunition, and knowing the date I knew it would be today she got in to Beacon herself. Looking at the time, I scurried out of the house shouting out my goodbye's as I made my way through the forest towards one of my job's, more aware of how late I was going to me I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings and was thus unaware of my surroundings so when the large paw slashed at me from behind I was thrown sailing across the forest landing haphazardly on the floor.
For the first time since arriving in Remnant I was staring at a Grimm, well three Grimm, Beowolves' in fact, and I was terrified, they looked nasty enough in the show but in real life, they were something else. As tall as me and twice as large, the bone white protrusions and red marking's a stark contrast to the pitch-black fur that made up their bodies. I was stood their horrified as the first ran towards me at full pelt, just barely ducking backwards underneath the claw, feeling the wind of what most likely would have taken my head off. Throwing my body forwards in to a roll and unholstering my Lucky Seven's before firing two shot's each at the surprised Grimm on either side of me, Standing and switching them in to their Katana forms with a mechanical lurch, I slashed deeply at the one to my left, before pulling the trigger's causing both weapons to glow brightly with flame's, using my semblance to teleport behind the one I should slashed and burying one of my blade's in to its skull whilst launching the other at the just now recovering beowolf I'd shot. As the body collapsed smoke billowing from the body, I ran towards the other grabbing the blade that was stuck in its side and pulling, using the momentum to launch me in to the air both weapons in my hand's and once more switching them to their revolver forms and firing all my remaining shot's in to its exposed back. Landing crouched as it's form began to smoke, I was caught by a slash to the back and forced to the ground by the first and now only beowolf. It continued to slash at me slowly chipping away at my aura, as I tried to manoeuvre in to a position, and just as I felt my aura begin to fade, I used my semblance to teleport slightly in front, rolling and turning to aim only to remember I hadn't reloaded, with a mighty roar the beowolf charged launching me across the forest floor, as my Lucky Seven's switched to their Katana form's. Reaching up slowly I felt blood dripping from a gash to my face, across one eye and just narrowly missing the eye itself in its path. I surged forward's as the beowolf did the same, as it got low to the ground and roared, I jumped upwards stabbing both blades in to it back and landing a downwards crane kick to its head, pulling both blade's free, I slashed at either side of its head causing it to stop moving as it rolled away from the rest of the body.
Panting fiercely as the adrenaline left my body, the pain from not just my wound but from all over my body seared through me, as I slowly made my way back towards the house.
When I arrived, I went straight to the kitchen and the medical equipment I knew was stashed there, opening it and using a small clothe to dab away at the wound, hissing with pain with each touch. At that moment Yang entered the house cheerfully shouting her hello's before entering the kitchen herself, it took her a couple seconds to notice me.
"Oh God Hadrian are you okay? What happened?" She asked as she grabbed the clothe from her hand and began to dab at the wound.
"Was walking through the forest when three beowolve's attacked me, one managed to get through my aura"
"You idiot" Yang replied softly with a smile, I'd always liked Yang her being my favourite character by far, and is this moment I hated that I had all the knowledge that I had of her and the other's future. Because in the short time I had been here I couldn't help but grew to like all of them, and I wanted to protect them. But I could, I could change small thing surely, maybe save Pyrrah, save Yang's arm, help Jaune. But should I. "I think it's going to scar" Yang whispered softly breaking me out of my thought's. Locking eyes with each other as she cleaned it, I couldn't help but realise how beautiful her eyes were, how beautiful in general she was, the fact that she was funny, confident and genuinely kind just added to that. "What you thinking about goofball" she asked a small chuckle following.
"You" I answered, and at her raised eyebrow and cheeky smile I rapidly continued "and Ruby and your dad, and how nice and good you've been to me, when you didn't have to be"
"What sort of future huntresses would we be if we hadn't?" She replied, "It didn't hurt that you were cute as well" she continued with a wink. Just getting a laugh from me in response, that decided it, I was going to do whatever I could to protect them.
"I'm Home! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" Taiyang yelled as he entered the house, and honestly, I could see why he'd think what he was most likely thinking, here I was leaning against the counter, Yang quite close to me, staring in to each other eyes and with him unable to see the bloody clothe, well it was a bad scene for a father. Yang quickly pulled away turning to look at her dad, clearly thinking the same as me.
"Nothing Dad, Hadrian got hurt so I was helping him"
"What happened?" He asked as father mode kicked in and he came over to look.
"Three Grimm, one caught me after my aura fell."
"Idiot" Like father like daughter they do say, he spent a couple minutes bandaging the wound whilst we all talked, before he received a call on his scroll. "Yes? Oh Its nice to hear from you but why are you calling? Oh? You two make sure you've got everything okay?" As he headed outside.
Looked like things were moving forward's.
#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#ATD#
And thus, end's the first chapter Of Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. Also, the longest chapter I have ever written, I hope you have all enjoyed, if you have maybe leave a review to tell me what you though,
Some final things, this is going to be the planned story moving forwards that I will be working on, with an update schedule of once every two weeks' at least, and that it is as always still unbetad. Also, Lucky's Sevens were not my idea but instead made by Zwei99 and I discovered them on rwbyfanon-wikia-com/wiki/Existing_Weapon_Ideas (Just changed the – to .)
Until next time, Lja1999 out
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